The person at the center of this case
Matthew Thomas Pope
Missing Person · Open
30 years waiting · since 1996
Missing Person: Matthew Thomas Pope
Justice for Matthew Thomas Pope — the trail went cold in 1996, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1What caused the Pacesetter to sink? Were there distress signals or communications before the vessel went down?
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person
Lead #2Were any of the seven crew members ever recovered or did they all perish in the sinking?
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clue
Lead #3Matthew Pope was wearing a gold wedding ring at the time of disappearance—could this aid in identification if remains are recovered?
Matthew Thomas Pope, a 33-year-old fisherman, went missing on January 27, 1996, when the fishing vessel Pacesetter sank approximately 60 miles southeast of St. George Island, Alaska. Seven crew members were aboard the vessel when it went down, including Pope and six other men. The circumstances of the sinking and the fates of all crew members remain unclear, making this a significant maritime mystery that warrants continued investigation and public awareness.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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witness
Lead #4Were there any other vessels in the area that may have witnessed the sinking or received distress calls?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP67277. Missing person: Matthew Thomas Pope.
Last known contact: 1996-01-27 in Dillingham, Dillingham, AK. Circumstances: Matthew was aboard the fishing vessel "Pacesetter" which sank 60 miles southeast of St.
George Island. Also missing is Stanley Eftestad MP67159, Michael Ericson MP67022, Bryon Koesterman MP66818, Stephen Mack MP66970, Elias Pena MP66770, and Richard Anderson MP66995.
Demographics: 33 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 11 in, 165 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Hazel.
Clothing and accessories: Jewelry: Gold wedding ring. Investigating agency: Alaska State Troopers | 960006280 | 1996-01-28.
Timeline of Events
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1996-01-27
Fishing vessel Pacesetter sinks
Matthew Thomas Pope and six other crew members were aboard the fishing vessel Pacesetter when it sank approximately 60 miles southeast of St. George Island, Alaska.
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1996-01-28
Alaska State Troopers investigation initiated
Alaska State Troopers began investigation into the sinking of the Pacesetter and the disappearance of seven crew members.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 27, 1996
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Phone: 9072695511
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Case Information
Incident:January 27, 1996
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 9072695511
You can remain anonymous